if not P5000, what?

I've been eyeing the P5000 for several weeks (had one on loan) and finally did some testing with it. The comments I saw in this forum indicated it is a GREAT camera EXCEPT for the slowness.

So yesterday I did a very UNscientific study. I took a bunch of pictures with the P5000, some outside, some inside, mentally noted the time for shooting (button push to capture). I then did the same thing with a Canon A640 that we just got for my son. Noted the times for focusing again.

Wow! What a difference. A640 just took the picture. P5000 seemed to "think" about it a long time.

I'll do more testing (I really like the other features of the P5000) but I think I'm now leaning away from the P5000.

So given that, here is my question:

Q: What cameras are comparable to the P5000 in all ways except it has better focusing time? I'd like to pay about the same price or lower so higher priced won't fly with my personal CFO (wife).